“This Grey” magnify traditional tourism norms by highlighting the tourist’s intentional avoidance of gritty, working-class neighbourhoods and her reluctance to delve into “realist” cultural experiences beyond the historic city center. For her, the industrial areas hold no allure, and there’s no interest in exploring beyond the old town – only a practical, somewhat monotonous existence that she adamantly avoids.
Our protagonist immerses herself in a world of fantasy, relishing in distractions and admiring beautiful objects. She’s drawn to museum gift shops, fashionable tote bags, and oversized suitcases – symbols of an easy and aesthetically pleasing life. Her vacation becomes an escape into an alternate reality, an aspiration for a life she desires rather than the one she currently lives.
“This Grey” isn’t a travelogue; it’s a character study, exploring the escapism that comes with creating a fictional persona while journeying through life. She seeks to forget her identity, constructing a character that travels and finds happiness, even if only temporarily.